Cut-out switch for telephones.



No. 772,936. PATENTED 00T. 25, 1904. J. R. & C. A. HARRIS.

CUT-OUT SWITCH FOR TELEPHONES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented October 25, 1904.

PATENT OEEIcE.

JAMES R. HARRIS AND CHARLES A. HARRIS, OF TRENTON, MISSOURI.

CUT-OUT SWITCH FOR TELE`PHOES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 772,936, dated October 25, 1904. Application filed June 23, 1904. Serial No. 213,772. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES R. HARRIS and OHARLEsA. HARRIS, citizens of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Grundy and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Out- Out Switches for Telephones, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to out-out switches for telephones, and has for its object to produce a device for and under control of each subscriber by which the latter may cut his telephone out of circuit while a storm is in progress, and thus eliminate in a large Ineasure danger of injury to person or property by lightning.

A further Objectis to produce a cut-out switch of simple, strong, durable, and cheap construction which will operate instantly and reliably and which can be easily and cheaply applied to telephone systems now in use or to those which may hereafter be installed.

A still further object is to produce a switch for connecting a telephone with either of two lines to enable a subscriber to converse over either and by which the telephone can be cut out of service with both lines at the same time.

IVith these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 represents a telephone cut-out switch embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the cut-out switch. Fig.

, 3 is an edge view of the cut-out switch. Fig.

4 is a horizontal section taken on the line IV IV of Fig. 3.

In the said drawings, 1 designates a plate secured to a telephone-pole or other support, and 2 a pair of insulating-spools mounted thereon, and looped around said spools, as at 4, is one end of the Inain-line wire 3. Below spools 2 is a spool 5, to which the main wire 6 of a different telephone system is attached and secured to the spools by the same bolts, 7

' which unite' the spools to the plate, is a bar 8, grounded by means of wire 9.

Pivoted on insulating-sleeve 10, bolted to plate 1, is a lever 11, adapted to operate in the plane of the main-line-wire loop 4. The upper end of said lever is forked, as at 12, for reliable engagement with the loop of the main-line wire and is connected to a cord 13, which extends into the house and may be attached to the hook 14 of the telephone 15 or may be otherwise supported. The lever, be low its pivotal point, is of substantially hook form, as at 16, and is electrically connected by a wire 17 to the telephone, such instrument being grounded by wire 15a in the usual manner.

Mounted on an insulating-sleeve 18, secured to plate 1, is a lever 19, terminating in a hook 20 at its free end for engagement with the wire 6 and with a laterally-projecting arm 21 at its other end, said arm being coiled to form a loop 22, to which is connected the wire 23, leading to electromagnetic bells 24, grounded,

as at 25, or in any other suitable manner, it

being understood, of course, that anysuitable audible signal may be substituted for said bells and that said signal is not detailed because it may be of any suitable or preferred type.

' rIhe wires 17 and 23 are so arranged that their weight is utilized to hold their respective levers in frictional engagement and electrical contact with the main-wire loop 4'and wire 6.

The parts, as shown in Fig. 1, occupy their normal positions, and in a call for the subscriber over line 3 'the current passes through 3 4, lever 11, wire 17 to telephone and then to ground through wire 1521 and attracts the subscribers attention bythe ringing of the telephone-bell 15b. The 'subscriber by removing the receiver 15c from the hook 15d completes the circuit in the Ausual manner and is enabled to hold a conversation with the calling sub scriber. When the subscriber is called over ing subscriber, the current passing over wire 6, lever 19, lever 1l, wire 17 to the telephone, and to ground through wire 151.

Should a storm arise, the subscriber pulls the cord 13 until lever ll engages lever 19, continuing the pull on the cord until the levers have assumed the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2, when the telephone is totally disengaged from both wires Band 6, so that should lightning strike either of said lines it can jump to bar 8 and pass thence through the grounded wire or lightning-conductor 9 to the ground.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have produced a cut-out switch for telephones which embodies the 'features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the object of the invention, and while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment oi' the invention it is to be understood that it is susceptible of modilication in various particulars without departing from the principle and scope or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a pair of main-line conductors, a telephone having a return or ground wire connection, an audible electromagnetic signal separate from the telephone and having a ground-wire connection, a conducting-lever normally in electric Contact with one of said conductors, a conducting-lever normally in contact with the other main-line conductor, a conductor between the lirstnamed lever and the telephone, a conductor between the last-named lever and the signal, and a ground-wire connection contiguous to said main-line conductors.

2. The combination of a pair or' main-line conductors, a telephone having a return or ground wire connection, an audible electromagnetic signal separate from the telephone and having a ground-wire connection, a conducting-lever normally in electric contact with one of said conductors, a conducting-lever normally in contact with the other main-line conductor, a conductor between the lirstnamed lever and the telephone, a conductor between the last-named lever and the signal, a ground-wire connection contiguous to said main-line conductors,and means for withdrawing the l'irst-named lever from engagement with its main-line conductor and throwing' it into engagement with the other lever.

3. The combination with a suitable support, a main-line conductor secured thereto, a lever mounted on said support, a telephone, a conductor between said lever and the telephone and holding the lever in contact with the main-line conductor, means for tl'lrowing the lever out of engagement with said main-line conductor, a return-wire leading from the telephone, and a ground-wire connection contig'uous to the main-line conductor.

4. The combination of a suitable support, a main line conductor secured thereto, a ground-wire connection contiguous to said conductor, a lever mounted on said support, an audible electromagnetic signal havinga ground-wire connection, a conductor between said lever and said signal and holding said lever vieldingly in engagement with said main-line conductor, a second lever pivoted to said support, a telephone having a return or ground wire connection, a conductor connecting the telephone with said second lever and holding the latter ,vieldingly awax,7 from the irst-named lever, and means for causing' the second lever to engage the iirst and establish communication between the main-line conductor and the telephone or to throw said [irstnamed lever out of engagement with said conductor.

5. rlhe combination with a suitable support, a main-line conductor secured to but insulated from said support, a second main-line conductor secured to but insulated 'from said support, a ground connection contiguous to said conductors, a lever mounted on but insulated from said support, a conductor holding said lever vieldingly against the lirst-named main-line conductor, a second lever mounted on but insulated from the support and having one arm in the path of the first-named lever, a conductor attached to the second lever and holding' the same normally in contact with the second main-line conductor, and a cord attached to the first-named lever for the purpose of withdrawing the same from engagement with the lirst-named conductor and throwing it into engagement with the second lever and also for throwing the second lever out of engagement with its conductor.

In testimony whereofl we aflix our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. HARRlS. CHARLES A. HARRIS. Titnessesz ETTA frirrnsoanv nu, PLA'r'r HUBBELL.

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